While final team line ups have yet to be confirmed, it is shaping up as being a 'mate v mate' confrontation when NSW takes on Queensland in the under 19's Origin match next Thursday night.
Local junior Nikora Williams has been selected in the NSW Blues squad, his Sharks Jersey Flegg teammate and Redcliffe recruit Prestyn Laine-Sietu for Queensland, for the match scheduled to take place at Sunshine Coast Stadium on June 19.
And if final teams are what might be expected, the pair will come face to face as opposing centres in the interstate 19's clash, forcing them to put friendships and club allegiances aside for one night as they chase Origin glory.
Williams and Laine Sietu played in the Sharks under-19 SG Ball squad earlier in the year before pushing up into the under-21 Flegg side, with both performing strongly in catching the eye of the state selectors.
A former student at Endeavour High School, Williams's ex-school and his 2025 SG Ball coach Brad Kelly was pleased his talents had been recognised by NSW selectors.
'It's good recognition for him that he's been able to make that team. The NSW under 19's is always a pretty star-studded line-up," Kelly, Head Coach at Endeavour Sports High School, said.
"A lot of those guys are knocking on the door of NRL selection. The last couple of years, there's been a few names that have basically gone from playing it one year, to playing in the NRL the next."
For Williams, who now trains full time with the Sharks NRL squad, his Blues selection comes after overcoming some early season injury issues.
"I'm really happy for him that he's been able to get over his injury from earlier in the year and get himself back into some good form. He's been rewarded with a Blues jersey," Kelly added.
As for Laine-Sietu, in his first season at the Sharks after being recruited from Redcliffe near Brisbane, the hard running centre was a standout at SG Ball level, named the club's junior rep player of the year at season's end. He joined the likes of Blayke Brailey, Teig Wilton and Sam Stonestreet from the current Sharks NRL squad as a recipient of the Sharks' most prestigious junior representative award.
Laine-Sietu has since gone on to earn a regular place in the Sharks Flegg team, where he has continued to impress.
See following the two team lists.
NSW under 19's
Jaxson Allen (Sydney Roosters), Mitchell Brophy (Canberra Raiders), Hayden Buchanan (St George Illawarra Dragons), Cooper Clarke (Melbourne Storm), Jezaiah Funa-luta (Parramatta Eels), Jacob Halangahu (St George Illawarra Dragons), Zane Harrison (Gold Coast Titans), Jack Hilliar (Newcastle Knights), Cody Hopwood (Newcastle Knights), Luke Laulilii (Wests Tigers), Hokafonu Lemoto (Penrith Panthers), Kanaan Magele (Sydney Roosters), Heamasi Makasini (Wests Tigers), Jethro Rinakama (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Toby Rodwell (Sydney Roosters), Cyrus Stanley-Traill (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jordan Uta (Canberra Raiders), Connor Votano (Newcastle Knights), Nikora Williams (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Mitchell Woods (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs). Coach: Josh Jackson.
Queensland under 19's
Javon Andrews (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans), Cooper Bai (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans), Coby Black (Souths Logan Magpies / Brisbane Broncos), Jai Bowden (Melbourne Storm), Jett Bryce (Burleigh Bears / Brisbane Broncos), Phillip Coates (Burleigh Bears / Brisbane Broncos), Jac Finigan (Redcliffe Dolphins / The Dolphins), Kobi Floro (Melbourne Storm), Zac Garton (Redcliffe Dolphins / The Dolphins), Sam Hyne (Canberra Raiders), Sunny Kama (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans), Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Cronulla Sharks), Kilarney Lavender (Burleigh Bears / The Dolphins), David Leota (Canterbury Bulldogs), Amaziah Murgha (Melbourne Storm), Ray Puru (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans), Bodhi Sharpley (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans), Oliva Smith (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sam Stephenson (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans), Hayden Watson (Burleigh Bears / Melbourne Storm)
